Phonograph mechanism



Aug. 26 1924.

' w. A. FRICKE Paouosmrn lmcxmusu Filed lay 12 1925 Patented Aug. 26, i924.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM A. FRICKE, F 'O'AK PARK, ILLINOIS.

PHONGGRAPH MECHANISIJI.

Application 'filed May 12, 1923. Serial No. 638,524.

To all tri/"m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, VILLIAM A. Fnioun, citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Parli, in the county of Cook and btate 5 of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Phonograph Mechanism, of which the following` is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to phonographs employing electric motors for driving the revoluble record supports thereof, my invention having for its object the provision of adjusting means whereby the duration of the closure of a switchl in the motor vcircuit may be regulated to suit the lengths of records being played.

In accordance with my invention I employ a member in actuating relation to the switch to open and close it and a gearing driven by said motor and driving said member and with respect to which said member is adjustable to adjust the duration of the closure ofthe switch.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the. controlling member is in the form of a cam and there is an intermediary pivoted lever having one end engaged by the cam and the other end in actuatingrei lation to the switch. This rcam is coupled with an element of the gearing by means of a friction coupler which permits adjustment of the cam with respect to an element of the gearing whereby theduration'of the closure 0f the switch and the duration of which may be employed as an aid to the adi justment of the switch controlling cam or member.` Y y Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

The revoluble record support .illustrated is in the form of a turn table 1, .though the invent-ion is not to be thus limited. A shaft 2 of the turn table is coupled with an electric motor 3, diagrammatically illustrated, by means of speed reducing gearthe pla-ying oftheV record may be regulated.

the shaftl 16.

ing, also diagrammatically indicated, and of which an element 4l is upon the shaft. switch having complemental Contact springs 5 and 6 isincluded in series with the motor and the generator 7,. When this switch is closed the motor is set into action and when it is opened the motor is brought to rest by the retarding action of said gearing. The switchis placed in a closed posiion by means of an intermediately pivoted lever 8, one end 0f which is engageable with the longer contactl spring 6 to elevate this spring into engagement with its complement 5 to close the motor circuit. When this lever is placed in an alternative position the end thereof that is engageable with the spring 6 is removed from beneath this spring t0 permit this spring to separate from the spring 5, the resilience of the spring 6 being suiiicient for this purpose.

The lever 8 is controlled by gearing which is driven by the motor 3. For the salte of convenience, this gearing is driven from the turn table shaft 2. I have illustrated a gear element 9 upon the hub 10` of the turn table and a worm pinion 11 in mesh with the gear 9. This worm pinion is upon one end of a shaft 12. A worm 13 is formed in the other end of this shaft and is in mesh with a worm wheel 14. A cam 15 is keyed to a shaft 16 which passes centrally through the worm gear 11i. A friction coupler. preferably in the form of a friction washer 17, made of cork, is interposed between the cam 15 and the worm gear 14. The nut- 18, threaded upon the lower end of the shaft 16, serves to press the spring washer 19 against the worm gear 14 with sufficient pressure to enable the friction washer 17 to have holding engagement with both the cam 15 and the wheel 11i whereby the wheel 14 will serve to drive its illustrated, there is an antifriction washer 2O above the cam 15 and engageable with the framework 21 to eliminate any direct frictional engagement between thefcam and said frame work, the

washer 2O being preferably of fibre.

vented from accompanying the cam in its adjusting movement by reason ofthe engaging teeth of the wheel 14C and worm 13.

The cam has a circul-ar dwell 15', concentrie with the shaft 16, which engages the end ci' the lever 8 opposite the lever end thatl is engageable with the switch spring 6, this dwell of the cam maintaining the lever 8 in the position in which the switch 5, 6 is closed. As illustrated, the end of the lever which engages the cam` is formed with a yfinger 23 which projects upwardly into the plane of the cam; this linger being maintained in engagement with the camby means '0i a spring 241- that engages the switch end of the lever 8 and which spring. exerts pressure upon the lever 8 in a direction that tends to remove the lever from bef neath ftherswitch to permit the switch to open. The cam' rotatesin a clockwise. directio'n, Vthe durationofrthe switch closure depending upon the portion of the cam 15 that) engagesthe lever finger 23. The cam regulate lthe duration of closure of vthe switch and thereby the duration `of the playing of the record.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated a pointer 26 is in fixed assembly with the shaft head-22. There is a scale 27 concentric with the" shaft 16 and suitably marked to enable the user to. determine the number of revolutions which the motor switch will permit the motor to turn the rec.- ord support. The beginning of this scale is marked with the word Start thereof is marked with the word Stop, these ends of the scale being spaced apart tocorrespond to the space between the cam drop 25 and the leading end 152 of the cam dwell 15. Another scale 28', concentric-with the scale 27 and the sha-it 16, is marked lin an opposite direction from the scale 27; The` scale 28 may be employed tomeasure the number of revolutions required to play al record, the record being marked with such number, the pointer 26 being placed at this number upon the scale 27 in playing the record.

Vhile I have herein vshown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of myinvention I do' not wish to-be limited to the precise details of construction shownv as changes may readilybe made without departing from the spirit of my invent-ion; butY having thus described my inventionil claim as neu7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent the ollowingi 1., The combination with the revoluble.

and the end actuating relation-to the switch to open and close it and havingi one portion" that zserves to maintain the switch closed and another portion which causes the switch to open; and

gearing driven by said motor and driving actuating relation to the switch to open and closevvit and having one portion that serves to maintain the switch closed and another portion which `causes vthe switch to. open; gearing driven by said motor and `driving said. cam; and a friction coupler for coupling saidv cam and an velement ot said gearingto permit adjustment of said cam with, respect to said gear element to adjust lthe dura- -tion of. the closure of the switch. is adjustable with respect to the elementfll to regulate the portion vof the` cam dwell that is engageable .with the. lever Vlinger tov 3. The combination with the revolubleH -record support of a phonograph; of anxelec-k -tric motor in driving relation to said sup-VV port; a switch in circuit with the motor for vto open and close the switch; and gearing driven by said motor anddriving said member and with respect to. which said member is adjustable to. adjust the duration of the closure of the switch.

4. Thek combinationI with the revoluble record support of a phonograph; of an electric motor in driving relation to said support; a ,switch in circuit with the motor for bringing it into and out of action; an inter-y mediately pivoted lever engageable at one end with said switch to place the switch in either of its alternative positions; a cam engageable with the other end of said lever to open the switch and having one portion that serves to maintain the switch closed and another portion ywhich causes the switch to v open; and gearing driven `by said motor anddrivingv said cam and with respect to which saidcamrisadjustable to adjust the duration of the closure of the switch. Y

5. The combination with the -revoluble -record support of a phonograph; of an electric motor in drivingjrelation to said ysupport; a switch in circuit with the motor Afor ybringing it into and out of action; an intereither fof its alternative positions; a mem` record support of a phonograph; of' an.elec..Y tric. motor nrdriving relation .to said sup-1. port a switch. inlcircuitswith.ther-motor .fon bringing it into and out of action; a caminil driven by. said motor and ,drivingl `said rn'emfif ber; anda friction' :coupler for'co'iipling vSaid member and an element of said gearing to permit adjustment of said member with respect to said gear element to adjust the duration of the closure of the switch.

6. The combination with the revoluble. record support of a phonograph; of an electric motor in driving relation to said support; a switch in circuit with the motor for bringing it into and out of action; an intermediately pivoted lever engageable at one end with said switch to place the switch in either of its alternative positions; a cam engageable with the other end of said lever to open the switch and having one portion that serves to maintain the switch closed and another portion which causes the switch to open; gearing driven by said motor and driving said cani; and a friction coupler for coupling said cam and an element of said gearing to permit adjustment of said cam with respect to said gear element to adjust the duration of the closure of the switch.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 25th day of January, A. I). 1923.

WILLIAM A.. FRICKE. 

